Uniqueness in Remote Sensing of the Inherent Optical Properties of Ocean Water
Abstract
This study examines the problem of uniqueness in the relationship between the remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) and the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of ocean water. The results show that diffuse reflectance of plane irradiance from ocean water is inherently ambiguous. Furthermore, in the 400 < lambda < 750 nanometer region of the spectrum, Rrs(lambda) also suffers from ambiguity caused by the similarity in wavelength dependence of the coefficients of absorption by particulate matter and of absorption by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The absorption coefficients have overlapping exponential responses that lead to the fact that more than one combination of IOPs can produce nearly the same Rrs spectrum. This ambiguity in absorption parameters demands that one identify the regions of the Rrs spectrum where one can isolate the effects that are due only to scattering by particulates and to absorption by pure water. The results indicate that the spectral shape of the absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, alpha(sub ph)(lambda), cannot be derived from a multiparameter fit to Rrs(lambda). However, the magnitude and the spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient can be estimated from the difference between the measured Rrs(lambda) and the best fit to Rrs(lambda) in terms of IOPs that exclude alpha(sub ph)(lambda). (10 figures, 13 refs.)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423406
Entities
People
- Michael Sydor
- Richard W Gould
- Robert A. Arnone
- Vladimir I. Haltrin
- Wesley Goode
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory